Rotary pool slide with one-way brake

ABSTRACT

A pool entertainment device having a wheel large enough to allow a person to sit or stand on its rim wherein the wheel is supported for rotation along side a pool is disclosed. The wheel may be mounted by stairs which are connected to the frame supporting the wheel. A brake allows the wheel to turn in only one direction such that a person on the wheel may ride only towards the pool.

Hartstein 1 51 May 22, R973 [54] ROTARY POOL SLIDE WITH ONE- 1,586,222 5/1926 Sellner .272 1 B WAY BRAKE 2,886,315 5/1959 Marshall ..272/1 B Inventor: Jay M. Hartstein, 18557 Asuncion St., Northridge, Calif. 9l 324 Filed: Aug. 7, 1972 Appl. No.: 278,488

U.S. Cl. ..272/l B Int. Cl. ..A63g 31/00 Field of Search ..272/1B, 60, 69, 71;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1875 Carley .272/60 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stouffer Atl0rney-Edwin H. Taylor [57] ABSTRACT A pool entertainment device having a wheel large enough to allow a person to sit or stand on its rim wherein the wheel is supported for rotation along side a pool is disclosed. The wheel may be mounted by stairs which are connected to the frame supporting the wheel. A brake allows the wheel to turn in only one direction such that a person on the wheel may ride only towards the pool.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ROTARY POOL SLIDE WITH ONE-WAY BRAKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to the field of entertainment devices utilized in conjunction with pools or other bodies of water.

2. Prior Art Slides which consist of inclines have been used for many years in conjunction with pools. The slide is typically mounted along side a pool such that a person may mount the slide and then slide into the pool.

The present invention provides a rotary slide having equal or better entertainment value when compared to an ordinary slide, with the advantages of requiring less space and less expenses for manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A rotary pool slide is described which includes a pair of generally U shaped, spaced apart frame members having their ends rigidly attached to the pool side area. A wheel is mounted on an axle disposed between the spaced apart frame members and rotates freely in one direction on the axle. Stairs are supported between the U-shaped frame members allowing an individual to climb the stairs while holding onto the U shaped frame. The person may then sit or otherwise engage the rim of the wheel and ride the slide into the pool. A brake which is coupled to the wheel and a frame member prevents the wheel from rotating in a direction other than towards the pool, thereby preventing a person on the slide from falling onto the pool side area. In the presently preferred embodiment the wheel is rotocast from plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotary pool slide illustrating the pool slide mounted adjacent to a swimming pool.

FIG. 2 is an elevation or side view of the rotary pool slide of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the slide of FIG. 2 taken through section lines 33 of FIG. 2 with a portion of the view cut away to show a bearing.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the brake means utilized to allow the wheel to turn in only one direction, this view is taken through section lines 4-4, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the slide illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, illustrating in a partial side view, an alternate braking means.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5 taken through section lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the rotary pool slide is illustrated therein mounted along side a pool 10. While in the present description the rotary pool slide is discussed in conjunction with a pool, it would be obvious that the rotary slide may also be utilized in conjunction with other bodies of water, such as lakes. Also, the rotary slide may be mounted on a raft which is floating in a body of water. The major components of the slide comprise frame members 140 and 14b, a wheel 11 having a riding surface or rim 12, mounting means which comprise stairs 15, and a braking means which includes a ratchet wheel 21.

The frame members 14a and 14b comprise a pair of general U shaped members having their ends rigidly coupled to the pool side by sockets 20. The frame members 14a or 14b may be made from single lengths of steel or aluminum bent to an appropriate shape and rigidly coupled to the pool side by known techniques. The curve sections 31 of members 14a and 14b, in the presently preferred embodiment, are disposed above the rim 12 for a sufficient distance to allow these sections to be utilized as hand rails as an individual climbs the step 15 and sits upon or otherwise engages the riding surface or rim 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a wheel 11 is rotatably mounted on axle 16 between the spaced apart frame members 14a and 14b. In the presently preferred embodiment the wheel is approximately 48 inches in diameter where its intended use is for children and as large as or larger than 72 inches in diameter where the wheels intended use is for adults. The presently preferred method of fabricating the wheel is by rotocasting utilizing plastic and where nylon bearings 18 are cast into the hub 17 of the wheel 11 during the rotocasting. The wheel also may be fabricated from wood, such as plywood, or it may be fabricated utilizing known fiberglass techniques. While in the presently preferred embodiment the wheel is circular and concentrically mounted, the wheel may be eccentrically mounted or have a cam shape. The riding surface or rim 12 of the wheel should be wide enough to allow a person to sit, squat or stand on the rim 12. In the presently preferred embodiment, the width of the rim 12 is approximately 24 inches. A non-skid surfacing material may be placed on the surface of rim 12 or the surface 12 may be given a rough finish in order to prevent slipping or skidding on this riding surface. Additionally, the rim 12 may include a depression circumferentially disposed about the center of the rim such as draft 13, most clearly illustrated in FIG. 3. This draft may be in the order of 2 /2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wheel 11 may be mounted on a solid steel axle 16 which is supported from the frame members 14a and 14b by the T caps 19. Also, the circular sides of wheel 11 may extend beyond the surface of the rim to form annular side rails which may be used for gripping. The wheel and frame are mounted such that a portion of the wheel hangs over the water.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, and particularly FIG. 4, the rotary slide includes a brake means which allows the wheel to turn freely in only one direction. This brake means comprises a ratchet wheel 21 and a pawl 22. The ratchet wheel 21, which may be an ordinary aluminum or steel member, is concentrically mounted on hub 17 of wheel 11 such that the ratchet wheel turns with wheel 11. A pawl 22 which is pivotally mounted to member 14a on rod 23, extends into the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21. The pawl 22 may include a spring means not illustrated to ensure that the pawl is urged into the teeth of the ratchet wheel 21 or as illustrated, the force of gravity on the pawl will be sufficient for some embodiments to ensure that the pawl remains in contact with the ratchet wheel 21. It will be readily apparent from FIG. 4 that the wheel 11 will only be able to turn in a counter-clockwise direction and will be locked in place if an attempt is made to rotate the wheel in a clockwise direction.

The wheel may be mounted by a person by means of stairs 15, these may be ordinary metal, plastic or wooden stairs which are disposed between one leg of the U-shaped frame members 14a and 14b. While in the presently preferred embodiment stairs are utilized as a mounting means, an incline may be utilizedinstead of stairs.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated which, aside from the braking means, is substantially similar to the rotary pool slide discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 1 through 4. The wheel 11 of FIGS. 1 through 4 is illustrated as wheel 24 for this embodiment. This wheel may be similar to wheel 11 except that it includes teeth 27 which are disposed circumferentially about one or both of the edges of the rim or riding surface of the wheel. These teeth may be cast with the wheel 24 or may be added to the wheel 24 by known techniques. The rim of this wheel may include a concave surface or a draft such as draft 13 of wheel 11. The wheel 24 is supported from frame members 25a and 25b for rotation between these spaced apart frame members. A brake plate 28, which is a rectangular plate, is flexibly attached to stair 26 by a pair of arms 29. These arms may comprise ordinary rubber members which are bolted or riveted at one end to brake plate 28 and at the other end to stair 26. The brake plate 28 is mounted from the stairs 26 or from the frame members 25a and 251) such that the plate 28 engages the teeth 27 of wheel 24. It will be readily apparent, particularly from FIG. 5, that wheel 24 will be permitted to turn in the direction indicated by arrow 30, that is in a counterclockwise direction, but by the action of the brake plate 28 within the teeth 27, is prevented from turning in a clockwise direction.

In order to utilize the disclosed rotary slide, a person mounts the stairs, such as stairs of FIG. 1, while holding onto the members 14a and 14b. Then, upon reaching the top step, climbs onto the rim 12 of the wheel. A person may stand, squat, kneel, sit, lie prone or supine, or otherwise engage the wheel 11. It will be readily apparent that once a person has engaged the wheel 11 he or she may ride the wheel as it rotates into the pool 10. The braking means prevents the wheel from rotating in a direction which would permit an individual to ride away from the pool back onto the pool side.

Thus, a rotary pool slide has been disclosed which utilizes a wheel having a riding surface and which permits a person to engage the wheel and ride it into a pool.

I claim:

1. An entertainment apparatus for use with a body of water, such as a pool, comprising:

a frame;

a wheel supported for rotation on said frame, said wheel having a rim defining a riding surface upon which a person may ride;

mounting means, coupled to said frame, for allowing a person to mount said wheel and engage said riding surface of said wheel; and

brake means for permitting said wheel to turn in only one direction;

whereby a person on said wheel may ride said wheel into said body of water.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprise stairs.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said brake means comprise a ratchet wheel and pawl mounted to said frame and wheel.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein teeth are disposed along at least one circumferential edge of said rim and a brake arm coupled to said frame engages said teeth.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said rim includes a draft defining a depression circumferentially disposed about the center of said rim.

6. An entertainment apparatus for use along side a pool or other body of water comprising:

a pair of generally U-shaped spaced apart members having their ends rigidly coupled to the pool side;

a wheel concentrically mounted for rotation between said spaced apart members, coupled to said spaced apart members, said wheel defining a rim for use as a riding surface by a person;

stairs coupled between said spaced apart members for enabling a person to mount the rim of said wheel; and

brake means for allowing said wheel to turn in only one direction coupled to said wheel,

whereby a person may mount said wheel and ride it into said pool.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said brake means includes a ratchet wheel concentrically mounted on said wheel and a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said U shaped members.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said wheel is a rotocast wheel.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein sections of said U shaped members are disposed above the uppermost extremes of said wheel such that said sections may be used as hand rails. 

1. An entertainment apparatus for use with a body of water, such as a pool, comprising: a frame; a wheel supported for rotation on said frame, said wheel having a rim defining a riding surface upon which a person may ride; mounting means, coupled to said frame, for allowing a person to mount said wheel and engage said riding surface of said wheel; and brake means for permitting said wheel to turn in only one direction; whereby a person on said wheel may ride said wheel into said body of water.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprise stairs.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said brake means comprise a ratchet wheel and pawl mounted to said frame and wheel.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein teeth are disposed along at least one circumferential edge of said rim and a brake arm coupled to said frame engages said teeth.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said rim includes a draft defining a depression circumferentially disposed about the center of said rim.
 6. An entertainment apparatus for use along side a pool or other body of water comprising: a pair of generally U-shaped spaced apart members having their ends rigidly coupled to the pool side; a wheel concentrically mounted for rotation between said spaced apart members, coupled to said spaced apart members, said wheel defining a rim for use as a riding surface by a person; stairs coupled between said spaced apart members for enabling a person to mount the rim of said wheel; and brake means for allowing said wheel to turn in only one direction coupled to said wheel, whereby a person may mount said wheel and ride it into said pool.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said brake means includes a ratchet wheel concentrically mounted on said wheel and a pawl pivotally mounted on one of said U shaped members.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said wheel is A rotocast wheel.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein sections of said U shaped members are disposed above the uppermost extremes of said wheel such that said sections may be used as hand rails. 